One mistake costs Lincecum, SF Giants in 1-0 loss

braves 1, giants 0 With no offense, just 1 bad pitch costs Lincecum

Published 10:09 pm, Thursday, August 18, 2011

Photo: Hyosub Shin, MCT

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The Atlanta Braves' Chipper Jones hits solo home run against the San Francisco Giants in the fifth inning at Turner Field in Atlanta, Georgia, on Thursday, August 18, 2011. (Hyosub Shin/Atlanta Journal-Constitution/MCT) less

The Atlanta Braves' Chipper Jones hits solo home run against the San Francisco Giants in the fifth inning at Turner Field in Atlanta, Georgia, on Thursday, August 18, 2011. (Hyosub Shin/Atlanta ... more

Photo: Hyosub Shin, MCT

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ATLANTA, GA - AUGUST 18: Tim Lincecum #55 of the San Francisco Giants pitches to the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field on August 18, 2011 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

ATLANTA, GA - AUGUST 18: Tim Lincecum #55 of the San Francisco Giants pitches to the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field on August 18, 2011 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Photo: Kevin C. Cox, Getty Images

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ATLANTA, GA - AUGUST 18: Tim Lincecum #55 of the San Francisco Giants pitches to the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field on August 18, 2011 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

ATLANTA, GA - AUGUST 18: Tim Lincecum #55 of the San Francisco Giants pitches to the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field on August 18, 2011 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Photo: Kevin C. Cox, Getty Images

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Atlanta Braves third baseman Chipper Jones is greeted in the dugout after hitting a solo home run in the fifth inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Thursday, Aug. 18, 2011, at Turner Field in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser) less

Atlanta Braves third baseman Chipper Jones is greeted in the dugout after hitting a solo home run in the fifth inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Thursday, Aug. 18, 2011, at Turner ... more

Photo: Erik S. Lesser, AP

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ATLANTA, GA - AUGUST 18: Freddie Freeman #5 of the Atlanta Braves dives into the first row to catch a pop fly foul ball by Pablo Sandoval #48 of the San Francisco Giants at Turner Field on August 18, 2011 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) less

ATLANTA, GA - AUGUST 18: Freddie Freeman #5 of the Atlanta Braves dives into the first row to catch a pop fly foul ball by Pablo Sandoval #48 of the San Francisco Giants at Turner Field on August 18, 2011 in ... more

Photo: Kevin C. Cox, Getty Images

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San Francisco Giants' Miguel Tejada hangs in the air after throwing to first base for a double play as Atlanta Braves' Jason Heyward, left, looks on in the seventh inning at Turner Field in Atlanta, Georgia, on Thursday, August 18, 2011. The Braves slipped by the Giants, 1-0. (Hyosub Shin/Atlanta Journal-Constitution/MCT) less

San Francisco Giants' Miguel Tejada hangs in the air after throwing to first base for a double play as Atlanta Braves' Jason Heyward, left, looks on in the seventh inning at Turner Field in Atlanta, Georgia, on ... more

Photo: Hyosub Shin, MCT

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ATLANTA, GA - AUGUST 18: Dan Uggla #26 of the Atlanta Braves catches a pop fly by Orlando Cabrera #43 of the San Francisco Giants in the ninth inning at Turner Field on August 18, 2011 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) less

ATLANTA, GA - AUGUST 18: Dan Uggla #26 of the Atlanta Braves catches a pop fly by Orlando Cabrera #43 of the San Francisco Giants in the ninth inning at Turner Field on August 18, 2011 in Atlanta, Georgia. ... more

Photo: Kevin C. Cox, Getty Images

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Atlanta Braves pitcher Craig Kimbrel reacts after recording a strike out to end the game against the San Francisco Giants at Turner Field in Atlanta, Georgia, on Thursday, August 18, 2011. The Braves slipped by the Giants, 1-0. (Hyosub Shin/Atlanta Journal-Constitution/MCT) less

Atlanta Braves pitcher Craig Kimbrel reacts after recording a strike out to end the game against the San Francisco Giants at Turner Field in Atlanta, Georgia, on Thursday, August 18, 2011. The Braves slipped by ... more

Chipper Jones homered in the fifth inning to account for Thursday's 1-0 Braves victory, and Lincecum's record fell to a mediocre 11-10 despite a tiny 2.53 ERA. In his postgame interview, he said all the right things, refusing to knock another lackluster offensive output, but there's no way Timmy Terrific wasn't burning inside.

This is his fourth Braves stint of the year, and the Giants offense put up no fight in his six innings, or three more against the bullpen.

Lincecum, who has received zero run support in 10 of his 26 starts, was asked if he feels like an 11-10 pitcher.

"I gave up that timely home run that cost me," he said, referring to Jones connecting on a 94-mph fastball that was supposed to be in but ran over the plate. "If I didn't do that, I'm sure we'd be better off."

C'mon, Timmy. You gave up one run.

"I want to go out there and throw a shutout every time I can," he said. "Just like all of us in here; we're perfectionists. We want to win, of course. But in a close game like that, you've got to buckle down throughout the game. That one run's going to be crucial, whether it's your team or the other team doing it."

If Lincecum was hiding any anger, Bochy was visibly seething. After reporters left his office, he sat alone with the door open, growling in an R-rated manner, loud enough for players at their lockers to hear. Pat Burrell stopped by for a few minutes and, later, general manager Brian Sabean.

In Bochy's mind, this was a pitching gem that shouldn't have been wasted.

"That's tough for Timmy and the club, all of us," Bochy said.

Ross led off two innings with hits and didn't advance a base either time. Bochy didn't call for any sacrifice bunts, but Orlando Cabrera got the "move him over" sign after Ross' first-inning double. One pitch, Cabrera squared to bunt. Another pitch, he lined foul by inches. Ultimately, he struck out, as did Pablo Sandoval. Aubrey Huff grounded out.

Bochy didn't want to give up an out, preferring to take three shots at a base hit, especially with the switch-hitting Sandoval not as effective right-handed (four RBIs in 73 at-bats).

"In that situation, you've got a professional hitter up there," said Bochy, explaining why he didn't have Cabrera sacrifice. "He's a foot away from driving in the run (if the liner were fair) and being on second base himself. He hit a bullet, and Huff hit a bullet right to Chipper. That's bad luck."

At Lincecum's locker, the losing pitcher said, "We've got to find our luck, and we've got to do it soon."

Deserving of better

Tim Lincecum has allowed zero or one earned run in 15 of his 26 starts this year but has just a 10-3 record with two no decisions in those games. He's not alone in his lack of support. A look at how the Giants' top starters have fared based on earned runs allowed:

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